Combined tie plate and rail brace



March 1929- R. R. METHEANY- COMBINED TIE PLATE AND RAIL BRACE Filed July 6', 1928 2 SheetsSheet INVENTOR: RichWd/Rflfia BY Y A TTORNE March 19, 1929- R. R. METHEANY COMBINED TIE PLATE AND RAIL BRACE Filed July 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR: JiicfuznZRJlT B Y Y Afromv Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

1,706,243 PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD R. METHEANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

COMBINED TIE PLATE AND RAIL BB-ACE.

Application filed July 6,

This invention relates toimprovements in combined tie plates and rail braces.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and advantageous construction and 6 arrangement of parts whereby a plate and brace may be formed integral and with little waste from a. single fiat piece of material such as rolled steel, and whereby the brace may be formed by a tongue which forms part of a blank and which extends between two laterally spaced side portions of that part of the blank whichforms the tie plate, and whereby parts of the free end portion of the tongue forming the brace may occupy positions above the laterally spaced side portions of the plate and whereby the free ends of the laterally spaced side portions of the plate may be bent upwardly to form abutments adjacent to the free end portion of the tongue forming the brace to prevent outward displacement of the brace away from the position occupied by the rail braced thereby.

The invention consists in the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a top view of a combined tie plate and rail brace embodying my invention, showing a railroad rail by dot-and-dash lines in place thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the plate and brace, showing the rail in dot-and-dash lines in end elevation thereon.

Figure 3 is a view of the blank from which the plate and brace shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are formed.

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, showing a modification of the invention in which a pair of adjustable spacing blocks is interposed. between the brace and the rail, and showing the blocks in section in Fig. 5, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the tie plate and 3 the rail brace which is fomed integral therewith. The position of the railroad rail upon the plate 2 is indicated at 4 by dot-and-dash lines.

The blank from which the plate 2 and brace 3 are formed is shown in Fig. 3, and this blank may be punched or cut from a section of rolled steel. The brace 3 is formed by a tongue 6 which is punched or cut from the main body 7 of the blank between two 1928. Serial No. 290,726.

side portion 8 thereof laterally of the tongue 6 constitute the tie plate 2 having the main body 10 and the laterally spaced side portions 11 outwardly of the rail brace 3.

In forming the brace 3 from the tongue 6, the tongue is bent in the region of its union 12. with the main body 7 of the blank to extend upwardly therefrom and form the inner arm 13 of the brace 3. The tongue is then bent to extend downwardly and outwardly and form the outer arm 14 of the brace, and the free end portion of the tongue is bent to extend parallel to the side portions 11 of the tie plate 2 so that the lateral projections 9 of the tongue will occupy positions upon the side portions 11 ofthe plate.

The free end portions 15 of the side portions 8 of the blank are bent upwardly to form upwardly extending lugs 16 on the side portions 11' of the tie plate outwardly of and in close proximity to the laterally projecting side portions 9 of the tongue or brace 3, and these lugs 16 serve as abutments for the side portions 9 to prevent outward displacement of the brace.

The projecting side portions 9 of the tongue or brace 3 and the underlying side portions 11 of the tie plate 2 are provided with alined spike holes 17 and 18, respectively, through which spikes may be driven into a cross tie to secure the tie plate thereto and to hold the free end portion of the tongue or brace 3 down upon the side portions 11 of the tie plate and in proper relation to the abutment lugs 16.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the inner arm 13 and the outer arm 14 of the rail brace 3 are both inclined toward the rail 4, and the brace 3 is constructed and shaped in the region of the union between the arms 13 and let to engage the tween theinner arm 13 of the rail brace and the rail web, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, so that the rail will be supported by the brace 3 through the blocks 19 against outward displacement thereof, and

so that the blocks 19 may be adjusted to take up any wear which may occur between the parts.

The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with railroad switches and I have herein illustrated the tie plate 2 1n brace, a tie plate provided with an upwardly projecting lug and having a tongue formed integral with the tie plate and extending upwardly therefrom and forming a rail brace and having a part constructed to abut against said lug. I

2. In a combined tie plate and rail brace, a tie plate havingtwo laterally spaced side portions anda tongue formed integral with the tie plate between the side port1ons thereof and connected thereto between the connections of said side portions with the main bodyjof the plate and extending upwardly therefrom and forming a rail brace above the space between the side portions of'the plate. I

3. In a combined tie plate and rail brace,

a tie plate having two laterally spaced side portions and a tongue formed integral with the tie plate and having a union therewith at one end portion of the tongue and between the side portions of the plate, said tongue extending upwardly from said union and then downwardly and forming a rail brace and having parts atthe free end portion thereof constructed to engage parts of the side portions of the plate.

4. In a combined tie plate and trail brace,

a tie plate having two laterally spaced side portions and a tongue formed integral with the tie plate'and having a union therewith at one endportion of the tongue and between the side portions of the plate, said tongue extending upwardly from said union and then downwardly and forming a rail brace andhaving laterally projecting side portions 1,706,243 V c I A ,r p

portions at the free end portion thereof above and constructed to engage the side portions of the plate, and the side portions of the plate having upwardly extending lugs outwardly of and forming abutments for the laterally projecting side portions of vthe tongue.

6. In a combined tie plate and rail brace, a tie plate having two laterally spaced side port1ons and a tongue formed integral with the tie plate and having a union therewith ,7

at oneend portion of the tongue and between the side portions of the plate, said tongue extending upwardly from said union and then downwardly and forming a rail brace and having laterally projecting. side portions at the free end portion thereof above and constructed to engage the side portions of the plate, and the laterally spaced side portionsof the plate and the laterally projecting side portions of the tongue having alined spike holes therein.

7. Ina combined tie. plate and rail brace, a tie plate having two laterally spaced side portions and a tongue formed integral with the tie plate and having a union therewith at one end portion of the tongue and'between the side portions of t-he plate, said tongue extending. upwardly from said union and then downwardly and forming a rail brace and having laterally" projecting side portions at the free end portion thereof above and constructed to engage the side portions of the plate, the side portions of the plate having upwardly extendinglugs outwardly of and forming abutments for the laterally projecting side portions of the tongue, and the laterallyspaced side portions of the plate and the laterally projecting side portions of the tongue having alined spike holes therein.

In testimony whereof I alhx my signature.

RICHARD H. METHEANY. 

